Kite trolley



Oct 1963 L. w. BIDDICK, JR

KITE TROLLEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1962 LLOYD W. BIDDICK JR.

INVENTOR.

AG NT United States Patent 3,105,663 KITE TROLLEY Lloyd W. Biddick, Jr., 216 Little Bldg., Ardmore, Okla Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,733 2 Claims. (Cl. 244155) The present invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to a trolley for traveling along a suspended cord, the cord being connected with a kite, balloon or other air suspended device elevated a considerable distance above the surface of the earth.

The prior art reveals a number of trolleys of this class but most of these devices involve or comprise an arrangement of components which easily get out of adjustment or in some instances are jettisoned and become lost and, furthermore, the mass of most of the individual trolleys is such that they will not function in a desired manner.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the instant invention to provide a trolley which will travel up a kite string, or the like, and release toy parachutes and bombs, or the like, from a fixed point on the string adjacent the kite.

Another object is to provide a device of this class which, when actuated by a stop on the string, will release its payload and return to the starting point on the string.

Another important object is to provide a trolley which is relatively light in weight and will be carried up the string when the wind velocity is relatively low.

An additional object is to provide a device wherein all components are connected in such a manner that the Wings or impelling means remains connected with the device and returns to the for a subsequent trip.

Still another object is to provide a device of this class wherein the trunnions of the pulleys or trolley wheel are easily removed from and replaced within their bearing supports for easily inserting the string into guide slots and trolley wheel engaging position.

Still another object is the provision of a device of this class which will elevate and drop various articles from kites as a means of aerial releasing advertising media or release a pyrotechnical display.

A further object is to provide a device which embodies a leading trigger or trip member for engagement with a stop fixed to the kite string which will actuate the trolley to release its payload and fold its wind impelling means so that the trolley will return by gravity to its starting point.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a light weight open type frame or body portion removably journaling a pair of trolley Wheels and having trigger and latching means connected with the body for holding and folding a pair of hingedly connected wings.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accom panying two sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device in operation;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the device illustrating one of the wings in extended position;

point of origin ready to be set FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along-the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 4; and,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the device, as a whole, supported by a kite string or cord 11 connected with a kite 12. The device 10 includes a body portion 14 and a pair of wings 15 and 16. The body 14 is substantially rectangular ingeneral configuration and is preferably formed of light weight material, such as acrylic plastic or sheet acetate. The body 14 includes a pair of side members 18 and .20 integrally joined together in parallel spaced relation around a portion of their peripheral edges by an intermediate member 22. The side members '18 and 20 and the intermediate member 22 are formed with a plurality of transverse lightening holes or apertures 24 thus forming an open type framework. Each of the side members is provided with upstanding projections 26 and 28 which curve arcuately toward each other in cooperative aligned spaced relation from the respective end portion of the side members. The projec tions 26 and 28 feature inward surfaces which converge inward and upward and terminate adjacent the periphery of the respective wheel 34 and 35 to form kite string guides or slots 26A and 28A. The projections 26 and 28 are each laterally enlarged to form two pairs of outstanding bosses 3031 and 3233, which respectively journal the trunnions of a pair of wheels or pulleys 34 and 35 each having a shallow cord receiving groove 37 formed in its peripheral surface. The side members 18 and 20 are each provided at one end portion with a pair of outstanding superposed bosses 36 and 38 which are line drilled for hingedly mounting the wings 15 and 16. The side members are provided with downwardly open transversely aligned inverted U-shaped slots 19' and 21 for the purposes more fully explained hereinbelow.

A latch member 40 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends by a pin 42 between the depending side edges of the sides 18 and 20 for the purposes which will presently be apparent.

The wings 15 and 16, preferably relatively thin sheet material, have cooperatively aligned mounting pins 41 and 43, respectively, fixed to their base end portions which are cooperatively received by the respective pairs of centrally drilled bosses 36 and 38. As shown in FIG. 3, the wings 15 and .16 are relatively large when compare-d with the body '14 and are characterized by downwardly and outwardly converging side edges. The wings 15 and 16 are each provided with a latching tip 44 and 46, respectively, extending outwardly of the base edge and in the same plane as the respective wing between the respective pairs of hinges. The latching tips 44 and 46 are provided with cooperating beveled end edge surfaces 48 (FIG. 5') which are cooperatively positioned in contiguous contact when the wings 15 and 1-6 are in wind engaging position, as shown by solid lines .(FIG. 2).

An upstanding end portion or hook 50, formed on one 7 end of the latch 40, cooperatively overlies the wing latching tips 44 and 46 and holds the latter in this position within transversely aligned slots 52 and 53 formed in pillar portions 54 and 55 of the respective sides 18 and 20 extending between the upper and lower edge surface of the body in vertical alignment with the respective hinge bosses 36 and 38. The other end portion 56 of the latch extends longitudinally of the depending side of the body between the side members 18 and 20 adjacent the lower edge thereof. A

A trigger 60 is slidably received by the body between the sideimembers 18 and 20' and comprises an upper slide section 62 .contiguously contacting the lowermost horizontal edge of' the upper portion of the intermediate member 22 with one free end portion 64 projecting forwardly of the body through a suitable slot 65 formed in the intermediate member 22. The other end 66 f the trigger slide section 62 terminates in spaced relation with respect to an'upstanding arm or .post 58 formed on the. latch 40 adjacent its pivoting point 42 for the pur poseswhich will presently be apparent. A depending leg 68, connected with the trigger slide adjacent the end 66 slidably contacts, at its free end, .the upper surface of the latch end portion 56 and normally maintains the trigger in latched or cocked position. Other depending legs 70 and 72 connect the upper slide portion 62 of the trigger with bottom slides 74 and 76' respectively which slidably contact the upper surface 'of the lowermost movementof the trigger simultaneously moves the lower latch member slide portions 74 and 76 and opens the depending end of the respective body recesses 21 and 19 thus releasing the payload, not shown.

44 and 46, permits wind pressure against the wings 15 and 16 to pivot the latter to a folded position substantially parallel with the body 14, as shown by dotted lines (FIG. 2). The trolley 10 then travels downwardly along the string 11 by gravitational attraction to its starting point. Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred pended claims.

I claim: l. A toy of the class described, comprising: a frame,

said frame comprising a pair of side .members inter connected around their marginal edges and having transverseapertures therethrough, said side members each horizontal portion of theintermediate member '22 and t .1

open and close the U-shaped slots 19 and 21;

' "Operation In operation the device lll is connected with the kite string 1-1 by removing the pair of wheels 34and 35. The wheels 34 and are removed from their respective supports 30 31 and 32 33, by manually'forcing the respective wheel downward .toward the body 14 so that the trunnion or axle portion of each wheel slides down: wardly along cooperating inner inclined surfaces 80 of the respective bearing boss to spring the respective pair of bearing bosses apart andrelease the wheel (FIG. 8); The string 11 is placed within the guideslots 26A and 2 8A formed by the inner converging surfaces of the projections 26 and 28. Each wheel is reinserted into the respective bearing boss by forcing the axle ofthe respective wheel into guide slots 82 formedyin the respective pairs of bosses 3031 and 3-2 33 (FIG. '7); The

cord '11 new contacts the peripheralgroove 37 of the wheels and supports the device. Desired toy bombs or parachutes or the like, not shown, are positioned within the slots 19 and 21 formed in the body. The wings 15 and 16 are pivoted to wind engaging position, as shown by solid lines (FIG. 2), and the trigger end portion 64 having upstanding projections at their respective-ends arcuately curved toward each other longitudinally of the frame, the free end portion of said upstanding projections each forming a pair of spaced-apart horizontally aligned bosses, each said pair of bosses having trolley wheel trunnion receiving recesses formed on their inner surfaces intensecting' opposing horizontal and downwardly inclined.

surfaces; a wheel journal'ed by each said pair of bosses, each said wheel having a relatively short trunnion slidably received by the respective inclined'surface of said boss for installation and removal "of. said wheelsfiinto and out of the respective pair of bosses, said side members each having a pair of superposed alignedly perforated bosses. adjacent one end; a pair of wingseach having cooperating aligned mounting pins pivotally received by the perforations of said superposedbossesgsaid wings extending downwardly and outwardly in diverging relation from said frame' when installed thereon, said wings each having a latching tip. portionv between said mounting pins projecting inwardly of the frame in -over5 lapping relation; a latch pivotallyimounted between o ne end portion of the sides of said frame and having a hook-shaped end portion overlapping; said latching tip portions of said wings; and a trigger slidably carried longitudinally between the end portion of said side memis moved outwardly of the body pivoting the latch 40 to wing latching tip engaging position. The device ltlyis then released and air currents contacting the wings .15 and 16 carries the device up the string toward the kite 12 with the latch end. portion 64 positioned toward the kite. When the latch end 64 forceably contacts a disk: like stop 78 fixed to the kite string 11 momentum of the device 10 and wind pressure on the wings 15 and 16 forces the trigger inwardly of the body 14. This pivots the latch 40 towing releasing position, as shown :by dotted lines (FIG. 4) by moving the inward end 66 of the trigger into contact with the latch arm 5'8. Move ment of the arm 58 pivots'the trigger hook portion 50 downwardly and out of the body .14, as viewed in FIG. 4, Whilethe depending leg 68 of the trigger. simultaneously slides along the latchportion 56 and is positioned within a cooperating recess 84 formed inthe upper edge surface of the latch adjacent the arm 58 to limit: the pivoting movement of the latch. This inward sliding bers of said frame opposite said latch and projecting beyondthe adjacent end of the latter, the other end portion of said trigger releasably contacting the end portion said frame comprising a pair of transversely apertured vertically disposed edgewise side members interconnected in spaced-apart relation around a portion of theirrna-rginal edges, said side members each. having upstanding spaced-apart projections at their respective endportions arcuately curved toward each other longitudinally of the frame, the free end portion of said upstanding projections each forming a pair of spaced-apart horizontallyaligned bosses, each said pair of bosses having trolley wheel trunnion receiving recesses formed on theirlin'ner surfaces, the inner surfaces of each said pair of bosses having opposing horizontal inwardlyconverging surfaces intersecting the trunnion recess and havingopposing iupwardly diverging surfaces intersecting the trunnionre; cess; a wheel journaled by each said pairof bosses, each said wheel having a relatively short trunnion slidably received by the respective converging and diverging surfaces of said boss for installation andremoval. of 'saidwheels into and out of the respective pair of bosses,"said.side members each having a pair of superposed alignedly perforated bosses adjacent one end; a'pair ofwings each having cooperating aligned mounting '-pins-pivotally received by the perforations of said"'sup'erposedbosses,

Release of the latch 40, which in turn releases the wing tip end portions said wings extending downwardly and outwardly in diverging relation from said frame when installed thereon, said wings each having a latching tip portion between said mounting pins projecting inwardly of the frame in overlapping relation; a latch pivotally mounted intermediate its ends between one end portion of the depending sides of said frame and having a hook-shaped end portion overlapping said latching tip portions of said wings, said latch having an arm projecting upwardly between said side members; and a trigger slidably car- 10 ried longitudinally between the end portion of said side members of said frame opposite said latch and projecting beyond the adjacent end of the latter, the other end portion of said trigger contacting the arm of said latch for pivoting the latter and releasing its hook-shaped end portion from latching tip engaging position when said trigger is moved inward longitudinally of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,785,871 Flint et a1. Mar. 19, 1957 

1. A TOY OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, COMPRISING: A FRAME, SAID FRAME COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE MEMBERS INTERCONNECTD AROUND THEIR MARGINAL EDGES AND HAVING TRANSVERSE APERTURE THERETHROUGH, SAID SIDE MEMBERS EACH HAVING UPSTANDING PROJECTIONS AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ENDS, ARCUATELY CURVED TOWARD EACH OTHER LONGITUDINALLY OF THE FRAME, THE FREE END PORTION OF SAID UPSTANDING PROJECTIONS EACH FORMING A PAIR OF SPACED-APART HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED BOSSES, EACH SAID PAIR OF BOSSES HAVING TROLLEY WHEEL TRUNNION RECEIVING RECESSES FORMED ON THEIR INNER SURFACES INTERSECTING OPPOSING HORIZONTAL AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SURFACES; A WHEEL JOURNALED BY EACH SAID PAIR OF BOSSES, EACH SAID WHEEL HAVING A RELATIVEY SHORT TRUNNION SLIDABLY RECEIVED BY THE RESPECTIVE INCLINED SURFACE OF SAID BOSS FOR INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF SAID WHEELS INTO AND OUT OF THE RESPECTIVE PAIR OF BOSSES, SAID SIDE MEMBERS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED ALIGNEDLY PERFORATED BOSSES ADJACENT ONE END; A PAIR OF WINGS EACH HAVING COOPERATING ALIGNED MOUNTING PINS PIVOTALLY RE- 